In this episode of the American Freedom Alliance's Parresia podcast, Dr. Karen Siegemund welcomes Dr. Peter Wood, President of the National Association of Scholars, to discuss the state of education in America. With a shared commitment to bold and truthful discourse, they explore the fundamental purpose of education, from K-12 to higher education, and its role in laying the moral and intellectual foundations for a good life. Dr. Wood reflects on the erosion of Western civilization as a core organizing principle in education, the rise of utilitarian and ideological influences, and the impact of movements like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and anti-Semitism on campuses. The conversation also delves into the manipulation of historical narratives, such as the 1619 Project, countered by Dr. Wood’s book 1620, and the broader societal implications of educational decline, including susceptibility to ideological narratives and social hysteria, as seen during the COVID-19 era. Dr. Wood shares his optimism about recent efforts to restore accountability in education and recommends three timeless books—Don Quixote, Huckleberry Finn, and Moby Dick—to inspire deeper understanding of the human condition and American character. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on reclaiming the pursuit of truth in education.

Peter Wood is the President of the National Association of Scholars. Dr. Wood is an anthropologist and former provost. He was appointed president of the NAS in January 2009. Before that, he served as NAS’s executive director (2007-2008), and as provost of The King’s College in New York City (2005-2007). Dr. Wood was a tenured member of the Anthropology Department at Boston University, where he also held a variety of administrative positions, including associate provost and president’s chief of staff. He also oversaw the university’s scholarly publications and served as acting university librarian. He received his Ph.D. in anthropology in 1987 from the University of Rochester. His dissertation, Quoting Heaven, examined the emergence of an American folk religion and pilgrimage center in rural Wisconsin. His undergraduate degree is from Haverford College (1975) and he has a master’s degree in library science from Rutgers University (1977). Dr. Wood is the author of Wrath: America Enraged, 1620: A Critical Response to the 1619 Project, A Bee in the Mouth: Anger in America Now, and of Diversity: The Invention of a Concept which won the Caldwell Award for Leadership in Higher Education from the John Locke Foundation. These books extend his anthropological interest in examining emergent themes in modern American culture. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Wood has published several hundred articles in print and online journals, such as Wall Street Journal, The Spectator, Partisan Review and National Review Online, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

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